Elizabeth Austen (buried 1921)

Elizabeth was born in the small village of Brompton Ralph where her father Robert was a farmer. The 1861 census shows Robert, his wife Elizabeth, children James, Elizabeth, Anne, Robert and Florence plus 2 servants and a shepherd. Elizabeth trained as a draper in Tiverton where she met and married Walter John Austen who was in the same business. By 1881 the couple had moved to Reading, where the first of their seven children were born. By 1891, the family were living above the shop in Western Road, Hove along with a nurse, servant, milliner, dressmaker and apprentice. After this date, the marriage seems to have fallen apart although the couple never divorced. Walter moved to America and Elizabeth moved in with her sister in Warwick Street, Worthing along with her daughters Elsie, Florence and Eva. Walter and Elizabeth's son Aubrey had lived with the family until 1901. The previous year, he had been involved in a cycle accident in Patcham in which a man died. Aubrey sailed to South Africa to work as a gold miner. In 1908, he was working at Simmer Jack East Mine in Germiston when he was killed in a rock fall on 9th May. He was buried in the local cemetery. At the inquest, his father's address was given as 6 Berwick Park, Boston and his mother's 9 Thorn Road, Worthing. Elizabeth lived at Thorn Road with her daughters until her death in 1921. She made a living selling apartments. Probate was granted on 21st May 1921 to Robert Sellick provision merchant. Effects £907.